As you’re reading these words, it’s probably still late December, but because this issue carries a January cover date, allow me to be among the first to wish you a very Happy New Year. We here at Fishermen’s News hope that 2024 will be a very happy and prosperous year for you, as well as for your loved ones and colleagues.
Here at the FN home base, we’ve been cooking up some special content to publish throughout the upcoming year, and I’d like to take a moment to tell you about it.
Among the stories that we plan to publish in 2024 are: articles on new and planned boating supplies & equipment that are geared toward commercial fishermen; tips for getting commercial vessels in tip-top shape for the upcoming fishing season; an examination of the trends that companies are following regarding the building of new commercial fishing boats; and look at new and emerging safety gear and devices that are or will be available soon to the commercial fishing industry.
But that’s not all. Also on the menu for 2024 are articles on if and how warming ocean waters and other atmospheric changes could affect the commercial fishing industry; plus a look at new and improved reels, cranes, winches, power blocks and other deck machinery needed for commercial fishing.
What’s really great is that all those articles are coming your way in the first half of next year. In the second half, we have another batch of interesting and insightful content planned, such as what’s new in the marine propulsion technology and catch processing equipment industries; and an article with the latest news about boatbuilding, repowers and retrofits of fishing boats at West Coast boatyards.
In addition, throughout the year we’ll also have our standard articles spotlighting the commercial fisheries in various regions, including the Bristol Bay/Bering Sea area, the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii & California, and Baja California/the Sea of Cortez.
We kick things off in this very issue with four great feature stories by some of our best writers. This issue includes a regional report on British Columbia fisheries by Margaret Bauman, a glance at commercial fishing gear n’ goodies now on the market by Norris Comer, and health and wellbeing tips for those in the industry by Karen Robes Meeks.
Also, in tune with the turning of the calendar, Sara Hall has crafted an article on important new rules and regulations for commercial fisheries that either go into effect in 2024 or went into effect in the months leading up to the new year.
At the risk of being called an optimist, I’ll say that it looks like the upcoming year will be a great one when it comes to quality content in Fishermen’s News.
And by the way, if there’s a topic that you’d like to see covered in the magazine, feel free to let us know. You can email us at hello@maritimepublishing.com or reach out to me specifically at the address below. We’d be glad to have your input.
In the meantime, once I’d again like to wish you and yours a very happy holiday season. And as always, thanks for reading.
Managing Editor Mark Nero can be reached at mark@maritimepublishing.com or (619) 313-4351